Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary, and the Manicaland Juniors of Excellence (MAJESA) is a shining example of this truism, having produced two talented players who have been selected for the Zimbabwe national team touring South Africa for the COSAFA tournament.
Joseph Kaunda (20) – MAJESA product and Manica Diamonds third-choice goalkeeper, continues to rise through the ranks after being named in the national team together with fellow MAJESA alumnus, Prosper Padera on national duty in South Africa for the COSAFA tournament.
Padera is now turning out for SJK Seinajoki in Finland.
MAJESA, formed in 2020, and officially launched on February 20, that year at a colourful ceremony in Mutare, officiated by veteran sportscaster, Charles ‘CNN’ Mabika, has since experienced rapid growth.
Under the co-directorship of Charles and his wife, Nomsa-Chiadzwa-Chave, MAJESA aims to nurture local football talent, with particular emphasis on supporting underprivileged youngsters in the local communities.
Chave said: “This is a truly humbling experience for me. It is a dream my wife, Nomsa, and I have long shared – to uplift local football talent, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds in our communities. If you knew where we discovered Prosper Padera, you would understand exactly what I mean.
“We are not going to stop here. We are committed to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives, in our own small way. These two players are just the beginning – we look forward to many more MAJESA products representing the national team and playing abroad.”
With head coach, Michael Nees, set to accompany the senior team to Morocco for friendlies against Burkina Faso and Niger on June 6 and 10, national Under-20 coach, Simon Marange will take the reins in South Africa.
The COSAFA Cup is scheduled to take place from June 4 to 15 in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Zimbabwe has been drawn into Group A alongside hosts, South Africa, Mauritius, and Mozambique, and will commence their campaign against Mauritius on June 4.
Kaunda has represented the Under-17 national team, although he has had limited playing time for Manica Diamonds in the Castle Lager Premiership league matches.
The Manica Diamonds reserve goalkeeper is the only player from the Mutare-based top-flight side to be selected for national duty in the two teams.
Rising football star, Padera’s life was marked by hardship from a young age.
Growing up without a mother, under the care of an unemployed father, in the arid Marange area, life was not a bed of roses for him and his younger sister. They relied on their unemployed father.
Despite financial struggles, Padera’s father recognised his son’s football talent and, with no other options, entrusted him to the hands of MAJESA for care and nurturing of his football skills.
As fate would have it, his father died just two weeks after surrendering him at MAJESA.
Much as this was devastating to the young soul, to his credit, Padera soldiered on with his God-given talent of playing football, and it was not long before he earned the admiration and respect of, not only the MAJESA family, but all those who watched him doing what he knows best in the middle of the park.
No wonder, he was named the Marvelous Nakamba player of the tournament when MAJESA turned on the heat to win the inaugural edition of the junior football contest.
Today, through the assistance of former EPL player, Dexter Blackstock, the youngster is now in the books of Finland top side, SJK.
Online Reporter